Giving to a Parish or the Archdiocese

There are several ways to make a gift to a parish, parish school, regional school, specific archdiocesan ministry or a general gift to the Archdiocese. The Office of Stewardship and Development can assist you and your advisor in developing a charitable gift best suited to your interests. You can contact us at (502) 585-3291 or via email at stewards@archlou.org.

Designating a Beneficiary for Your Gift

You may designate your gift for the benefit of a particular parish, parish school, regional school, a specific archdiocesan ministry (i.e. Catholic Charities, Catholic Cemeteries, Family Ministries, etc.), the annual Catholic Services Appeal, or for the general needs and use of the Archdiocese.

Tax Savings

Your charitable gift is deductible for income tax purposes to the full extent permitted by law. In addition, certain types of charitable gifts also offer capital gains and/or estate tax savings. The information contained herein is of a general nature and is not intended to serve as legal or accounting advice. Donors should always seek professional counsel to determine any tax savings and benefits when making a gift.

Ways to Make a Gift

Cash Gifts. You can make a cash donation by sending a check or money order to the Archdiocese of Louisville to the following address. Note, cash gifts can always be sent directly to a parish, parish school, or regional school.

Please be sure to enclose a signed letter indicating the beneficiary of your gift, e.g. the annual Catholic Services Appeal, a parish, parish school, a regional school, or archdiocesan ministry.

Donating Stock. Donations of stock offer a way to make a charitable gift without having to utilize cash funds. In general, you can avoid capital gains taxes by donating stocks held for more than 12 months; however, you should always consult with your financial advisor or a tax professional to determine the actual tax benefits or any other consequences of a stock donation.

To donate stock, please follow these steps:

1. Download the Archdiocesan Stock Donation Form by (clicking here). This form will provide your broker with instructions regarding the stock to be donated and the routing of your gift to the Archdiocese’s brokerage account. Note – Please indicate the beneficiary of your donation on the archdiocesan form.

2. Forward the completed Stock Donation Form to your broker and a copy to the Archdiocese’s Chief Financial Officer at bash@archlou.org or by mail to:

For income tax purposes, the fair market value of your stock gift is determined by the date that the stock is transferred to the Archdiocese.

Donating Real Estate or Personal Property. Donations of real estate or personal property provide another attractive way for you to make a gift. Due to the legal issues and requirements regarding the transfer of ownership for real estate and personal property, we ask that you contact either: the Office of Finance at finance@archlou.org or the Office of Stewardship at stewards@archlou.org prior to making this type of donation. Either office can also be reached by phone at (502) 585-3291.

Memorial Gifts. Memorial gifts are a wonderful way to honor a loved one. Memorial gifts can be made to a parish, parish school, regional school, specific archdiocesan ministry, the annual Catholic Services Appeal, or for the general use and needs of the Archdiocese. Gifts should be sent to the Archdiocese or appropriate parish along with a letter indicating the beneficiary of the gift and the person you wish to remember with your gift.

Employer Matching Gift Programs. Several employers offer a matching gift program for employees’ charitable donations. Such programs will match employee gifts on a one for one or a two for one basis. In this way, your gift can be doubled or even tripled. Please consult with your employer’s Human Resources Department to determine if your employer offers such a program as well as the program’s requirements for qualifying charities.

Planned Giving – Creating Your Legacy

Planned giving provides donors with a variety of methods to make a lifetime or estate gift to their parish, parish school, regional school, archdiocesan ministry, or the Archdiocese. Planned Giving has been referred to as an ultimate act of stewardship and a means to establish your legacy by ensuring that your accumulated assets and blessings are distributed to those causes that are important to you.

Planned Gifts can be made during one’s lifetime or as part of an estate plan. Due to the complex and legal nature of many planned giving options, donors are encouraged to always seek legal and professional counsel. The Office of Stewardship and Development is available to assist you, your attorney and/or financial advisor in preparing a planned gift.

Bequests. Bequests are one of the most common forms of planned giving. Bequests are provisions in a will for the distribution or transfer of one’s cash or other assets upon death. Bequest gifts may take the form of a specific dollar amount, a gift of stocks or securities, real estate or property, or a percentage of the residue of the estate.

Bequests offer the advantage of making a future gift without affecting your current cash or asset portfolio. When having your attorney draft your bequest, he or she should utilize the following language:

“I give, devise, and bequeath to the Roman Catholic Bishop of Louisville, a corporation sole with principal offices at 212 E. College Street, Louisville, KY. << insert gift>> for the use and benefit of << name, parish school name, or regional school name>>.”

Gifts of Life Insurance Policies. You can make a gift of a life insurance policy by naming a parish, parish school, regional school, or the Archdiocese as the beneficiary or co-beneficiary on the policy. This type of gift may be especially attractive since it provides you with the means to make a substantial gift without interrupting your income or disturbing other assets.

Charitable Remainder Trust. With growing concerns over retirement funding, certain types of gifts can provide a source of income during your retirement years. One of the more common forms involves the establishment of a charitable trust. A Charitable Remainder Trust involves transferring a portion of one’s assets into the care of a trustee. The trustee is responsible for managing the trust, making income payments as directed by the donor, and final distribution of the trust’s remaining assets upon termination of the trust.

Donor Benefits: In addition to providing a source of income during one’s lifetime, a Charitable Remainder Trust can help one to minimize the impact of estate taxes and maximize the amount of assets that can be passed along to heirs and charitable causes.

Due to complex legal requirements involving the establishment of a Charitable Remainder Trust, you will need to consult with an attorney and a qualified financial advisor to establish a Charitable Remainder Trust.

For assistance in making a planned gift, please contact the Office of Stewardship and Development as follows: